In 2020, powerful online movements emerged to celebrate and elevate the voices of Black scientists.
Called the #BlackInX movements, these efforts arose during months of protests against police killings and police brutality. They were a reaction to events, including the Central Park bird-watching incident an episode that highlighted the dangers and harassment that Black people often endure while living their daily lives.
Among the leaders of #BlackInX movements are two UB doctoral students: Olivia Geneus, a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry who co-founded Black In Nanotechnology, and Raven Baxter, a PhD candidate in the Department of Learning and Instruction who founded Black In Science Communication. (Baxter, a microbiologist and prolific science communicator known as Raven the Science Maven, also created Black In STEM Education, but has handed off coordination of that initiative to other organizers.)